Folding machine



April 28, 1942.

L. M. KAHN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1959" N QQ 5 Sheets-Sheet l" 3 *1 @Q-w B Q INVENTOR. J, :21,

ATTORNEYJ April 28, 1942., L. M. KAHN FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet-2 1N VEN TQR.

ATTORNEYS L. M. KAHN FOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 22, 1939 INVENTOR. M w

IIIIIIIIIIIIII 5H IUIIIIIIIII v N! ATTORNEY? April 23,.1942- L. M. KAHN 2,280,954

FOLDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEYS L. M. KAHN FOLDING MACHINE April 28, 1942.

Filed Sept. 22, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. w

A TTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28, 1942 FOLDING MACHINE Leo M. Kahn, New York, N. Y., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 22, 1939, Serial No. 296,059 In Great Britain September 22, 1938 5 Claims. (Cl. 270-81) This invention relates to folding machines such as are used in laundries for folding towels, sheets and the like. and relates more specifically to the timing mechanism in such machines.

The folding machine timing mechanisms herein described are of the type which operates selectivly in accordance with the length of the article which is fed into the machine, i. e., which folds the article in two, three, or four, according to its length.

In this general type of timer, the motions of the folding blades have been controlled by electric circuits which have been opened and closed by roving contacts. In a Mayer machine, these contacts moved with the same speed over varying paths with electrodes atvarious points thereof (see United States Patent No. 1,581,753).

- The movable contacts were magnetized buttons I at all times gripped magnetically between the disks, two of which were of iron. A large por- 1 tion of the time, including all periods when the machine was in operation and no articles were being fed into it, the buttons which were in contact with the disks were restrained from moving with them. The resulting friction between the disks and the buttons had serious-consequences. The buttons became worn and would jamb. The heat of the friction destroyed the buttons magnetism.

It is an object of this invention to provide a timer which utilizes movable contacts of the kind described above but which does not use magnetism and in which friction is reduced to the amount normally present in any machine; to provide such a timer in which the movable contacts are positively and mechanically moved along their paths; to provide such a timer in which there is relatively no friction between the movable contacts and the element which moves them, even while they are motionless and that element is moving.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation, partly in section. of a control unit for a folding machine,

which unit embodies one form of the invention;

Figs. 2-5 are cross-sectional views, in elevation, of the machine shown in Fig. l and taken, respectively, along the lines 2-2 33, 44 and 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the machine shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a folding machine and the control unit shown in Fig. 1; f

Fig. 8 is a view, in elevation and partly in section, of a different form of the device shown in Figs. 1-7 and taken along the line 8-8 of- Fig. 9:

Fig. 9 is a view, in elevation and partlyln section, of the device shown in Fig. 8 and taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is 'a view similar to Fig. 9 of a portion of the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9 but with the parts at a different stage of their operation:

the line ll-ll of Fig. 13, of a detail of the device shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a view in elevation of a diflerent form of the device shown in Fig. 12; 1

Fig. 16 is a view of a detail of the device shown in Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a difl'erent form of the devices shown in Figs. 1-16.

In the preferred form of the invention, the position of the fold to be made in an article is determined by, and the fold itself is made as a result of, the movement of a rider on a cylindrical surface, which movement is controlled by the passage of the article through the machine.

The bed of the machine over which the article to be folded passes comprises a pair of horizontally spaced conveyors Ill between which is disposed a so-called folding finger or blade I! provided with means for being moved at appropriate times transversely to the direction of movement of the article so as i'oldingly to lift the latter and present it to a pair of folding rolls II. It is this finger which is automatically operated so as to cause the article to be folded along the desired line.

Blade 52 may be operated by any motive means such as a friction clutch or solenoid ii to which is brought power from electric mains i8 and which may be in series with a relay. The riders. set in motion by the article to be folded, in their turn operate the relay and solenoid and, thereby. blade l2, as will next be explained.

The timing unit shown in the drawings may be placed anywhere as there need be only electric connections between it and the actual artidevice moves out of the slot. it pushes against a com tact button 28 in whatever electrical contact carrier it happens to be overlying the slot and moves a grooved element 32, attached to the contact button, against the threads 3% of a shaft 35. Spring means as normally maintain element 32 away from the shaft 86. r

3% is modeled parallel The axis of. the shaft to the axis of the body. The shaft is rotatably supported in the frame 43 which also supports the body 29. The rotation of the shaitmay be synchronized with the motion of the conveyors Ill and may be driven from the e source whenever the grooved element d2 of any contact carrier 39 is pressed'aga'inst the rotating shaft 86, the contact is caused to move parallel with the shaft. Any suitable meanspermitting that parallel motion maybe provided. As shown. these comprise, for each'contact, a rail 52 ex-' tending parallel with the axis longitudinal slot 4.4,therein. The sides of rail which form the slot act as guide m'e'ansfor 22and having a v the the contact while it is moving parallel to shaft l6 and to axis22 of the mainbody. .7

Means are provided for moving the rails 42 and their respective contacts around the outer surface of the cylindrical body 20. .Aconvenient arrangement includes a pair of supporting radial arms 46 which carry the rails 42 and'which may be integral with a'rlng 48 which is concene trio with the axis 22 and rides on the fixed hub which is attached to the body 20., The various rails 42 are spaced around'the surface of the body 20. The various rings 40.1fm the supports'46 of the rails 42, may be positioned next to each other and longitudinally of the axis 22, each pair of projecting supports 46 being staggered with respect to the next pair.

The following mechanisms operate to cause the grooves on the contact carrierto engage the shaft 38. the passage ofvthe front and rear edges of an article on the conveyors Ill. This switch closes and opens an electric circuit in which there is an electric solenoid -54. The latter operates a plunger 58 which, in turn, operates the bell. crank 58 pivoted on shaft 60. The crank, in turn, moves an arm 62 which is attached to the hollow crank shaft 84. The latter is coaxial with. and rotatable within, the body 20. A pair of connecting rods 68 are each pivotally attached at one end to the crank shaft 84 and at' the other end to the lifting bar 28. Thus, the passage of a leading edge of a sheet over switch 52 causes lifting bar 28 to rise whereby the grooves in a'contact carrier 20 engage shaft 36 and the contact'moves parallel to that shaft a distanceproportional to the length of the article because, when the trailing edge of the moving article passes and opens switch 52, solenoid 54 becomes inoperative. spring 35 rotates bell crank 50, rods 88 and bar 26 moves inward, whereby contact 30 no longer has connection with shaft 28 and ceases to be moved parallel thereto.

The disconnecting of a contact carrier 30, on

7 its rail 42, from shaft 36 frees the railto move around body 20 and parallel to'its axis to-the friction between shoe, fixed to 22, due the rail.

A switch 52 is opened and closed by ,face of the body 20. v electrically connect'edto solenoid l6.

" the machine.

essence and the friction pulley ii. The latter is constantly revolving, being geared to shaft 36.

As one contact 30 starts around the body or drum 20, the next contact 30 is frictionally and similarly moved around the drum to a point opposite shaft tirwhere it is haltcdby stop Il'i to avoid which it must be moved along shaft 36 for a minimum distance.

in Fig. 7, the surface of the cylindrical body 2a is shown diagrammatically as spread out flat. The lines 12 represent no actual element in the device but do represent possible circles on the body surface perpendicular to the body axis 22. similarly, lines It represent possible straight lines on the surface of body 26 and parallel to axis 22. Let it be assumed that the longest article to be folded is one hundred and twenty inches in length. The blade i2 is positioned at a distance from the switch 52 equal to one half the length of the longest article to be folded, in thiscase sixty inches. I When the'iront edge of the onehundred and twenty inch arti- .cle has gone one hundred and twentyinches beyond switch 52, it is time for the blade It to rise and push the center or the article up between the rolls-l4 so that the latter may draw" the article, doubled uponitself, up between the] rolls and between theconveyors I04 and M16 The article passes along on top of conveyor flllfi by an operatori The mechanism which causes blade I2 to 'oper-f ate, e. g., when the and may be-removed therefrom one hundred and twenty inch article has passed beyond the switch 52 'by oneh'undred" and twenty inches, comprisesa' metallic conducting strip 18 fixed on the'surff I One end of strip '18ffis' v the contact carriers 30 is connected electrically to one of the power mains l8 through tlie'beaw ing 48 and the frame of the device. The gearing i's so arranged that a contact carrier 30 moves the entire distance'along shaft 36 in just the time necessary for the longest article to pass by andoif from switch 52. When theforward' edge of. the one hundred and twenty'inch article closes switch 52, the foremost contactlllin Fig. '1 starts to move" parallel to the lines 14' and has just time enough to go the entire length,

of one of these lines (the length of shaft 36) by the time switch 52 is opened. At that moment, solenoid 54 is deenergized. Bellcrank I 58 thereby operates to pull bar 26 away from the contact 28 and the latter drops away from the threads on shaft 36 so that the contact carrier 30 no longer moves parallel to the axis of At the same time, the contact starts around the periphery of body 20. As shown in Fig. 7, the contact '28 immediately contacts strip 18 to form a'clos'e'd circuit for solehold 18 which thereupon operates the folding blade l2. The contact 28' then passes beyond strip I8, the solenoid I6 is no longer operated, and blade l2 drops back toits former position.

As described. above, as soon as the first contact starts around the form, the next is brought up to position ready to start its motion parallel to theaxis of the machine whenever the next article passes switch 52. i

Strip "can be so shaped that no matter what the length of the article, the latter will always be folded in half. For example, if a sixty inch article starts to pass switch 52, one of the contact. carriers 30 starts along shaft 38. By the time the front edge of the article reaches the blade i2, the rear edge will pass off switch 52.

The contact 30 will have moved half way along the. length of the threads on shaft 20. The switch 02 will then open the circuit and contact 20 will stop its motion parallel to the axis but will immediately begin to be carried around the body 20. When the front edge of the sixty inch article has gone thirty inches beyond the blade I2, it is time for the blade to operate. Assume that the speed of rotation of the friction pulley 01 brings the contact at that instant to the point a on the diagram; The strip ll must, therefore, pa s through that point. It will be seen that the positions of the various points of the strip may be empirically determined for the strip.

Means are provided for folding again any already once folded article'. These comprise a blade II2 positioned to push the article up of! conveyor I and to insert it between rolls H4. The blade H2 may be operated by a solenoid III in circuit with another strip 40, the position of which may be determined by considering the relative speeds of the parts and the distance between blades I2 and 2. An article so folded .twice may be removed from conveyors I01 by an operator.

It may be desired to mm articles of a, certainlength, say from fifteen to forty inches long, into three layers rather than into four or two. In that.

case, a conducting strip I4 may be fixedly placed on the body 20 in such position that blade I2 operates when two-thirds of the article has passed beyond that blade. A second strip 44 will cause the second blade to be operated to fold the remaining part of the article in half.

If it is desired to fold an article only in half, no strip 04 is provided. Thus,"a machine built in accordance with Fig. 7 will fold articles. which are from ten to fifteen inches long, in halves only, there being no second strip beyond the portion of the first strip. Obviously, where there are no strips corresponding to any particular length article, such an article will go through unfolded.

There must be means for returning each contact, after it has left the contact strips 14, 04, etc., to the end of the device where the threads 24 begin, 1. e., with the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the bottom end. A portion of the surface of drum 20, beyond the contact strips, is cut away as at 02. When any contact arrives there,

it falls under gravity along its rail 42 until it reaches the lower end of its slot 44. Mechanical means may be provided to accomplish the same end.

Although it is convenient to have the first part of the path of any contact be a straight line parallel to the axis, this need not be so and where the first part of a path is not a straight line, the shape of the conducting strips may be altered to take that into account.

The timing device shown in Figs. 8-11 is similar to that described above in that there are movable contacts for completing circuits at various times in order tooperate folding means. In this device, also, each moving contact is carried along a straight path for a distance proportional to the length of the article being folded at the moment and each contact is then moved along a circular path as before, but, in this case, the circular path is co-planar with the straight path, while in the device first described the circular path forms a plane perpendicular to the straight path.

In Fig. 8, IN denotes a sprocket whereby the The operation of the device has been described in connection with the several parts.

motion of the timer is synchronized with the motion of the conveyors of the folding machine. Gearing connects the sprocket to horizontal shaft I02 which passes through a fixed insulating disk I04 having metallic strips I on or flush with its surface. The strips correspond-in function with strips 18, 00, etc. of Fig. 7. Two disks I08, one on each side of disk I04, are attached to and movable with shaft I02 and are of magnetic material. They operate alike in controlling the motion of the contacts II 2 against the strips and only one will be further described. A non-magnetic annulus IIO, for example of brass, is fixedly positioned around and co-planar with disk I00. It may be attached as a rim to disk I40 (see Fig.11). A plurality of movable, permanently magnetized contacts II2 lie between the magnetic and the fixed disks and are supported by apart of the frame II4 which surrounds the disks. The operation of the device is as follows. An article entering the folding machine closes a switch (like switch 02 of Fig. 1). Solenoid H4 is energized and attracts armature lever Ill which pivots and presses idler I24 against measuring plunger I22. The latter comes in contact (see Fig. 10) with friction feed roll I24, geared to sprocket I04. The second solenoid and plunger shown are for the second magnetic disk and operate similarly. The plunger then tips atrip I20, allowing one contact II2 to fall into the cup on the end of the plunger. When the rear edge of the article on the folding machine passes the switch mentioned, theswitch opens, solenoid I I0 is deenergized, idler I24 ceases to press'the plunger against roll I24, and the plunger falls, leaving the contact H2 to be carried by the magnetic disk I04 past strips I00. The contact of the strips and a contact completes respective circuits through the strips and the metallic rotating disk, too. These circuits actuate the folding mechanisms as described in connection with the device of Figs. 1P7. After a contact has contacted its last strip, it is brought against a cam surface which directs the contact back to its original support II4 where it is adiacent fixed annulus III or non-magnetic rim IIO.

When in this position, there is no force holding the contacts other than gravity. Hence, the contacts are not worn away.

The device shown in Figs. 12-14 is another form of the device of which one form is shown in Figs. 8-11. In this form there need be nomagnetic disk and the contacts are not magnetic. They are each carried past the strips by one of the supports I20 frictionally engaged and rotatable with shaft I02.

A support I20 comprises a pair of parallel rods I32 generally radial to shaft I02. Each contact H2 has a pair of passageways through which one pair of rods I32 lies or loosely passes. One of each pair of rods is in contact, as it moves about shaft I02, with an arcuate electrode I34. The other rod is similarly in contact with an arcuate electrode I38 of smaller radius. Each contact I I2 contains a solenoid E30 which has connections I40 to the rods and which operates a toggle i4! for jambing the rods against the contact passages to fix the contact H2 radially. The independent.

subsid ary, electric circuit for fixing a contact radially comprises main ltd, conductor M5, electrode I36, rod I32, connector I48, solenoid H38, connector I40. rod I32. electrode I34, and main I43. When that circuit is open. the toggle is not in effect and the contact H2 is slidable along the rods I22.

There are breaks in electrodes I 34 and I38 so rotate about shaft that contacts which are moving around shaft its may have their iambing circuits closed (contacts II2 held radially in position) while the contacts which have not started around shaft I02 may have their jambing circuits open and hence be slidable radially. The end portion of electrode use, which is disconnected from the rest of electrode I36, is independently connected to main it by conductor I06 which may be broken at switch me. The result one of the rods I32 is in contact with I34, and when the switch is open, there is no current through solenoid I38 and the contact H2 is movable along those rods. At the same time, another contact I E? on a moving rod is held fixed on that rod by the activated solenoid. The area of the rods against electrodes E35 and I38 is large of this arrangement is that when aaeaeea enough to bridge the breaks which are so close to starting position of the rods that one pair will have crossed the breaks before another pair has reached the starting position.

The operation of the device is .as follows. article on the folder passes and closes switch 52. This operates solenoid 56 which causes plunger I22 to rise and push contact II2 toward shaft I02. Simultaneously, solenoid 54 opens switch I48, opening the circuit through solenoid I38 so that contact I I2 is free to slide along its rods I32. When the article leaves switch 32, it opensagain, causing plunger I22 to fall away from knob I50, freeing it, contact II2, and rods I32, which latter are connected frictionally with shaft I02, to I02. Brush E52 of contact H2 is available to contact the strips I06 whereupon the various folding mechanisms are set in play as described in connection with Fig. '7. While contact H2 is in contact with strips I03, the electrical circuit is through conductor I45, electrode I363, rod I32, electrode I36, the folder mechanisms and back to conductor I45. When the rods leave electrodes I34 and I30, the circuit through solenoid I38 is broken, toggle M2 is inoperative, and

gravity pulls contact IIZ back to its starting position.

Figs. 15 and 16 show a modification of the last described device wherein the jambing of the contact on the rod I32 is entirely mechanical. There is but one rod for each contact 2I2. Pivoted to contact 2I2 is an element 204 through which, and through the contact, the rod I32 extends loosely. A spring 258 between the contact and element 234 holds them in a position to bind against rod I32 whereby they are fixed against the rod. Plunger I22 has a cam surface 258 which pivots element 254 against the action of spring 253. The contact and element are no longer bound against rod I32 and are free to be slid thereagainst by the force of plunger I22. A permanently positioned cam 223 similarly releases the bind between contact and element. after the contact has passed by electrodes I34, so that gravity may here too bring the contact back to its starting point at the end of rod I32, r

The device shown in Fig. 17 comprises a supporting frame of four uprights 300 which carry a table 302 which is a section of a right circular cylinder. They also carry a shaft 304 positioned along the axis of the table. A pair of arms 308,

' fixed to shaft 304, extend beyond the table and carry between their outer ends a rod 333 having a spring clasp 3i0 thereon. A pivoted pedal 3I2 at either end of the machine may be moved by the person running the machine. It is connected by linkage 3H3 both to the clasp 3I0 and arms see. The linkage is such that a motion of the backward until it meets operated rod 341. The latters pedal first shutsthe clasp and then the arms 30@ away from their normal central post tion..'

There is at least one slot are in the table and perpendicular to shaft 30d. A bar 8th lies under 3 the table and parallel by arms 320 which are rotatable about shaft Eilid with its axes and is carried An article to be folded is attached at its for-1 ward end to clasp hi6 end'the rod see is pushed away from the operator. That motion may be brought about ill by moving pedal or 2) automatically upon closing of the clean. or

(3) by hand. Simultaneously, her 898 moves cle. when the article is first laid over the slot (H6 and the first motion of arms are connect the main switch 324, a through slot 3It, is reflected from the under surlight 32% in rod 3% shines face of the article, and enters photoelectric cell I 320 to get in readiness a clock-operated switch mechanism 330. When the trailing edge of the article passes off the cell to function and thereby causes mechanism 330 to begin to act. At this moment. since arms 305 I and 320 move with point of the article those arms. Mechanism 330 starts motor 332 the same speed, the midwhich, through linkage 33B, pushes connecting rod 338 and so rotates arms 333 about shaft 305. A bent rod 340 is rotatably held in the outer ends of arms 333 and normally held as far as possible above table 302 by spring 362. When arms 338 have reached vertical position (or slightly beyondto take into account the time of actionof these arms), cams 344 rotate rod 340 down so as to tightly press the mid-point of the article against the table.

At about the same time. but determined by mechanism 330, solenoid 343 begins to pull linkage 343 whereby levers 340 are with them arms 350 by means of links 35I so as to rotate about shaft 304. The levers 343 carry at their ends a stiff apron 352 above table 302.

Arms 350 normally are at the far end of the machine and the apron extends back toward the top or center of the machine and from side to side. The apron pushes between clasp 3I0 androd 340, pulling the front end of the article from the former and folding it back over the rod 35%.

The extent of the motion of the apron is govcrned by extent of the motion of linkage 348 and that in, turn is controlled by the solenoidmotion is limited by a cam 343a on shaft 305. The farther rod 303 must be pushed before the mid-point of the article is at the mid-point of the table. i. e., at the starting point of arms 308,

apron 352 must push. Cam 349a. turns with arms 308 and Is so shaped that the farther they go the farther rod 341 may go and so the farther apron When arms-end and v be held open byany con the rear end of the arti- 328, the latter ceases is at the starting point of pulled, drawing the more of the article I there is to be folded back and the farther the their neutral positions, 1

ing blade for pushing two rolls.

The machine shown in Fig. 1'7 may also be adjusted so as to fold an article into three layers. Linkage 322 is connected to each of the arms 320 at a point half as near to shaft 304 as in the case of a single fold. This results in bar 3l8 moving twice as fast in one direction as does rod 308 in the other. Hence, the latter comes out from under the rear edge of the article when that rear edge is twice as far from the table mid-point as is the leading edge. Therefore, rod 340 overlays the article at one-third its length and apron 352, by moving over it, causes the firstfold there.

Next, the linkage 334 is caused, by the connecting rod 335 connecting it to motor 332, to reverse direction and draw rod 340 out of the first the article double between I fold. After it has returned to its starting point,

it is carried forward again, first under the rear end of the article and then over the apron so as to fold the last third of the article over the edge of the apron which has stopped (by cam 349a) as far beyond the table mid-point as the rod 308 went on the other side. The pedal may then be released and the entire machine comes to rest..

It will be seen that rod 340 makes two complete sweeps back and forth for one sweep back and forth of the apron 352. While the rod 340 is forward the first time, it overlies the article so that the apron can. make the first fold. Then the rod returns to its starting position at the end of the machine. The second sweep forward begins with the rod close to the table so as to be under and to pick up the rear end of the article and continues with the rod elevated slightly more above the table so as to pass over to fold the article over the apron which has not returned to its starting position. The starting positions of rod 340 and the apron are shown in Fig. 1'7. Rod 308 and bar 3l8 are there shown as just having left their starting positions.

The mechanism next described is the second stroke which causes the rod- 340 to be pressed upon the table only during the starting portion of its second sweep forward. Its forward and backward motion is caused by connecting rod 335. Gearing 354, run by motor 332, gives cam 358 one revolution while the end of connecting rod 335 is carried twice about a circle. Pivoted cam 358 has one end in contact with cam 356 and the other end lying along the edge of the table at the starting point of the' path of the end of pivotable rod 340. With every second swing forward of the rod 340, cam 358 swings into the path. of the end of the rod and depresses the rod, whereby the latter is brought into contact with the surface of the table so as to get under the trailing edge of the article to be folded over the apron v352. Normally rod 340 is held above the table surface by the spring 342.

A spring 360 is positioned from the frame of the machine to the lever 350 to return the same to its starting point after the operation is complete. At this final stage, a lever 36| may now make a fourth fold by rotating 180 degrees and 1. In a timing device for a machine for folding articles, the combination comprising an element, means for moving said element along a two-directional path for a distance which is. a function of the length of an article to be folded, and folding means set in operation by said element at the end ofsaid path and adapted for folding said article, said path lying on a cylindrical surface and including a portion parallel to the axis of said cylinder and a circumferential portion.

2. In a device for folding articles, the combination comprising a contact element free to move parallel to a predetermined line, a spirally grooved shaft having an axis parallel to said line and rotatable about said axis, a surface of said element being formed to mesh with the grooves of said shaft, means for causing said surface and said shaft to engage, and means for moving said contact element around said line.

3. In a device for folding articles, the combination comprising a contact element free to move parallel to a predetermined line, a spirally grooved shaft having anaxis parallel to said line and rotatable about said axis, a surface of said element being formed to mesh with the grooves of said shaft, means for causing said surface and said shaft to engage, means for moving said contact element around said line comprising track means parallel to said shaft for said element to move in, and an arm radial to said line and supporting said track means.

4. The combination in a timing mechanism, with a rotary contact carrier and a support provided with a fixed contact adjacent the path of said carrier, of a contact button movable relative to and by'said carrier, electric circuits connected with said fixed contact and with said button, a button shifting device spaced radially from said carrier, means for moving said button radially on said carrier into operative relation with said device, and means for rotating said carrier when a button is released from said device, whereby said button completes an electrical circuit through said fixed contact.

5. In a timing device, a fixed cylinder, a fixed electrical contact thereon, a carrier including a bar parallel to the axis of said cylinder, an electrical contact button slidable along said bar and adapted to engage said fixed electrical contact, means engageable with said button for sliding it along said bar, means controlled by an article to be folded for causing actuation of said last named means, and means for rotating said carrier about said cylinder when said button is disengaged from said button sliding means, whereby to carry said button into engagement with said fixed contact. I

LEO M. KAHN. 

